Coaching Basics

• Introduction - Watch Video
• Throwing - Watch Video
• Catching - Watch Video
• Hitting - Watch Video
• Base Running - Watch Video

Pulaski Baseball Youth Coaches Practice Plan

Expectations (5 minutes)

You cannot successfully teach anything about the game of baseball, if the players are running around like wild dogs. Before you do anything, bring the entire group together, get down on their level, share names, and establish a simple set of expectations that will allow everyone to enjoy their time on the field.

1. Listen: all kids will vary in their ability to hone in and listen to instruction, but if you never address it and ask them to do better, I can guarantee they always struggle. Remind them frequently and do not be afraid to pause until you get their attention.
2. Pay Attention: Ready position in the field as the hitter is getting ready to swing, and awareness of where you are and who is around you when you are holding and swinging a bat.

Catching (15 minutes)

If you are coaching T-Ball or Machine Pitch, do not assume that your players will be able to successfully line up and play catch with each other. Start simple and then gradually progress the athletes to further distances and throws that are more advanced.

1. Coach Flip to Open Glove (Line players up on foul line and work up and down the line)
2. As players advance, move back.  
3. As you move back, start to lightly overhand-throw the ball to the open glove.
4. Remind your players to throw the ball back to you and not over your head.
5. If your players are able to accurately complete the below throwing drills, you can start to mix in some opportunity for them to try playing catch. You may want to consider having them start by flipping the ball back and forth and then progressing to throws.

Throwing (15 minutes)

It will sound goofy, but one of the things I focus on most with the younger players is to “loose the silliness” when they are throwing. Especially at the T-Ball age, throwing mechanics may look more like a wild Tik Tok dance, than an actual athletic movement. Encourage them to slow down, point their lead shoulder, and aim at their target.

1. Knock Down the Bucket or Other Target (Dump balls out in a pile and have players go one at a time attempting to knock over a pair of stacked buckets)
2. One at a time, allows you to coach each athlete into the proper position and focus
3. Because there is a clear and fun objective, you should have everyone’s attention.
4.  As proper throwing mechanics are established, began introducing the “shuffle, shuffle, throw” concept

Hitting (15 minutes)

The first things you will need to establish for young hitters, is how to hold the bat, and where to stand in the box, do not complicate the process more than that. Chances are if they are holding it right and standing in a good position in the box, a swing will make contact with the ball.

1. T-ball Batting Practice (Place a pile of balls by the tee and help the player load the ball onto the tee and hit each ball off, getting them properly set up each time. Their teammates will spread out fielding the balls and placing them into a bucket or bag. When the hitter runs out of balls, bring the next player up to hit.)
2. Right hand hitter (left bottom, right top), left hand hitter (right bottom, left top)
3. Measure up to the plate
4. Knees bent, feet slightly outside hips and parallel
5. No back elbows up, just hold the bat strong
6. Eyes on the ball and take a swing

There is more to hitting mechanics than these coaching ques, but I do not feel it necessary to throw everything at these kids when they are just starting. You will actually notice without coaching, some of the other pieces will just add themselves to the mix like a stride step and “squashing the bug.”

Base Running (5 minutes)

At the T-ball level, gather them all as a group and take them around the bases in one chaotic finishing moment. Really, all you are trying to establish is the proper direction and path to take around the bases. Remind them, that we wait until the ball is hit (because we are paying attention), and then we take off for the next base

At the machine pitch level, this drill can become more complex. Line everyone up at home plate, and send them one at a time to the next base. If your players are easily grasping the station-to-station game, you can consider trying some doubles, triples, and home runs. Have fun with it, and make it a race.

Summary (5 minutes)

Finish by summarizing the day, tell them what they did really well, and where they need to improve. Give them something to look forward to for next time or at least tell them what to expect next time. Before leaving, come together as a team, and finish with a “word of the day”. Let the kids pick it, count to three, and let them yell it out. Remember, at a young age, being a part of a team and having fun with new friends is as important and playing the game well. Little things like this make them a feel a part of something. 

Evaluate the days practice routine or pre-game prep. Time is limited and the times I have on here are just suggestions if you want to cram it all in for one practice. Your best bet is to focus on the area your players’ need the most work in, or an area you have not touched on yet. When games start, do not just show up and line them up for the game, use your pregame time, to focus on one of the above areas with as much time as you have, and then hustle them into the dugout for the game. Lastly, do not beat yourself up when a drill does not go as planned, it happens. Just like the players need to get better every time, so do we as coaches.